Air quality concerns have emerged ahead of Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina after smoke from wildfires in Canada spread across parts of the northeastern United States.
Officials in New York and neighbouring New Jersey have issued health advisories as haze from the wildfires has blanketed the region, leading to poor air quality just days before the final at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford.
The New York Office of Emergency Management said air quality in parts of the city had reached “very unhealthy” levels on Thursday and advised residents to avoid spending long periods outdoors, urging people to limit outdoor activity where possible.
The latest development comes after a tournament that has already been disrupted several times by thunderstorms and adverse weather, with a number of matches either delayed or temporarily suspended.
Spain arrived in New Jersey on Wednesday night after defeating France in the first semi-final and trained outdoors on Thursday. The players appeared unaffected by the smoky conditions, and the Spanish camp has not expressed any concerns over air quality.
Argentina, meanwhile, remained in Georgia following their semi-final victory over England but were scheduled to begin training in New Jersey on Friday afternoon.
Weather forecasts, however, offer some optimism. Conditions are expected to improve from Friday, while rain predicted for Saturday is likely to help clear much of the lingering smoke from the atmosphere.
Although the New York New Jersey Stadium is an open-air venue, current forecasts suggest air quality should improve before kick-off, reducing the likelihood of any major disruption to the World Cup final.
Spain and Argentina are set to meet on Sunday in one of the most anticipated World Cup finals in recent history, with organisers continuing to monitor weather and air quality conditions closely ahead of the showpiece event.